Federal agents search home of Arizona pitcher

~ Grimsley asked for his relase Wednesday from the Diamondbacks.

PHOENIX -- Pitcher Jason Grimsley was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, a day after his home was searched by federal agents following his admission he used human growth hormone, steroids and amphetamines.

The raid -- and Grimsley's implication of other major league ballplayers -- was the latest sign that widespread investigations into drug use by athletes are still active, even in the era of tougher testing.

Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said Grimsley, 38, asked for his unconditional release in meetings with team officials Tuesday and Wednesday.

According to court documents, Grimsley failed a baseball drug test in 2003.

Thirteen federal agents searched his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., for six hours Tuesday, but they would not reveal what they found. Investigators who cracked the BALCO steroid scandal in San Francisco said Grimsley initially cooperated in the probe but withdrew his assistance in April, prompting Tuesday's search.

Authorities tracked a package containing two "kits" of human growth hormone -- about a season's supply -- that was delivered at Grimsley's house on April 19, court documents showed.

Moments later, agents armed with a warrant offered him a choice to cooperate or submit to an immediate search. Grimsley agreed to be interviewed.

He proceeded to detail his "receipt and use of anabolic steroids, amphetamines and human growth hormone over the last several years," but said he went exclusively with HGH when baseball's testing program began.

Grimsley also identified several other players who he said had used or supplied the drugs, though their names were blacked out from court documents. They included a handful of former teammates and one player he identified as one of his "better friends in baseball," adding that it was common knowledge that "Latin players" were a major source for amphetamines.